Is Sitting the New Smoking?

The new saying going around is that sitting is the new smoking and according to Dr. James Levine, director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University Obesity Solutions Initiative and inventor of the treadmill desk, we lose 2 hours of life for every hour we sit. Sitting all day is not natural and is to blame for all kinds of ailments. But while the office worker now has the possibility of a treadmill desk – what about the musician who has no choice but to sit for long hours in rehearsals and practicing?

Indeed, we all need to move more but it is also important to sit well – paying attention to appropriate alignment. Traditional piano method book instructions of “sit up straight and tall” are woefully lacking – an issue I addressed in my article The Draggin’ Dragon: Some Lighthearted Tools for Serious Sitting (American Music Teacher December/January 2006/2007). You can read the article here (while you walk on your treadmill??) and maybe the toys, tools and images will enhance your perception either at your instrument or when working with students.